Another Reason to Dislike the Ravens

Disclaimer: I grew up in western PA (Beaver Falls, to be exact), and thus am a lifelong Steeler fan.  The Ravens are pretty much the devil’s spawn.

That said, I always observe that lotsa people over the centuries have lost their minds about sports.  Truth is, sports are a diversion, a pastime, entertainment, an enhancement to everyday life.  What a sports team does really doesn’t amount to a pinch of crap on the cosmic scale. 

 

But what sports figures—who may have influence in terms of role-modeling for the young’uns—say or do can have a profound effect on impressionable minds.

So, speaking of crap, it’s crap like this makes my blood boil.  In a TV ad opposing marriage equality in Maryland:

Baltimore Ravens Center Matt Birk tells voters to oppose Question 6, which would put the state's legislatively-passed marriage equality bill into effect in a new ad for the Maryland Marriage Alliance, which was uploaded to YouTube by the Maryland Catholic Conference.

Says Birk in the ad: "Marriage is not easy. but it has lasted throughout the ages as an honored institution because it provides unique foundations for societies and children. Marriage is more than what adults want for themselves. It is also about the next generation. Marriage is and should remain between a man and a woman. Gay and lesbian couples already receive benefits in Maryland, like hospital visitation, state health benefits, and tax breaks. They don't need to redefine marriage."

 

 

The man can certainly have bigoted opinions, and I would defend his right to be an a**hole.  But I would think that the Ravens organization would tell him to knock it off, this ad reflects poorly on the team and the NFL. 

 

I loved a couple of the comments:

 

"an honored institution"? What is the straight marriage divorce rate these days? 50%. Yep, a real honored institution there buddy.

 

What is the end game for these bigots? Do they honestly think if the marriage bill is defeated, all gays and lesbians will close up shop, dissolve their relationships, and turn straight? No matter what, gays and lesbians are going to be together, they are going to raise children, and they are going to live their lives as best they can.